In an interview Tuesday 19 January with Gwen Ifill, senior correspondent for PBS Newshour, PAHO Deputy Director Jon Andrus expressed cautious optimism at the steady progress being made in ground-level coordination in Haiti among numerous international relief partners. He described the priorities of PAHO/WHO as the lead agency of the health cluster and how it and other U.N. agencies are joining forces to maximize efficiencies.

PAHO is also working closely with the Haitian Ministry of Health and a just-formed national health commission to address both short- and long-term needs and to help ensure a better future for the country.